Forget about any ceasefire deal, Netanyahu and his right wing zealots need to go first.
Netanyahu ‘understands very well’ what not going into Rafah means, Ben-Gvir says
As we reported, Netanyahu announced that a ground offensive in Rafah would occur “whether or not there is a [ceasefire] deal” after he held meetings with right-wing members of his coalition government, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
In a video statement on X, Ben-Gvir welcomed Netanyahu’s statement and said, “I warned the prime minister [of the consequences] if, God forbid, Israel does not enter Rafah.” “If God forbid, we end the war. If, God forbid, there will be a reckless deal.
“The prime minister heard my words, promised that Israel would go into Rafah, promised that the war would not end and promised that there would be no reckless deal. I welcome these things. I think the prime minister understands very well what it will mean if these things do not take place,” he added.
On Sunday, Ben-Gvir threatened that a ceasefire and no operation in Rafah would mean the “dissolution” of Netanyahu’s government.
Israel ‘a hostage of irresponsible lunatics’, says opposition leader
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid says Israel has become “a hostage of irresponsible lunatics” in his latest post slamming Prime Minister Netanyahu.
“You can’t go on like this. A minister with a criminal record stands in the prime minister’s office and threatens the prime minister with the consequences if he does not do what he is told,” Lapid wrote on X.
“[Itamar] Ben Gvir tells the whole world and the whole region that Netanyahu is weak and works for him. It is unbelievable that he is not fired on the spot.”
Earlier, Ben Gvir said Netanyahu had “heard” his words and understood the consequences if the Rafah operation did not happen. Far-right ministers, including Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have both threatened to leave Netanyahu’s coalition government if the military operation in Rafah does not occur.
Netanyahu says possibility of ICC warrant ‘a scandal on a historic scale’
As we’ve been reporting, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating Israel’s operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and could issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders.
But Netanyahu said if the International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants, it would be a massive scandal.
“The possibility that they will issue arrest warrants for war crimes against [Israeli military] commanders and state leaders, this possibility is a scandal on a historic scale,” Netanyahu said.
“I want to make one thing clear: no decision, neither in The Hague nor anywhere else, will harm our determination to achieve all the goals of the war – the release of all our hostages, a complete victory over Hamas and a promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.”
As I have reiterated over the last months to leaders from around the world: Israel has the full right and duty to free our hostages and defend our citizens.
The state of Israel, our military, and security forces are working tirelessly to achieve these goals, operating totally…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) April 30, 2024
Of course you have the right to defend your country, but not by committing war crimes indefinitely.
